When Capella Singapore’sAuriga spa launched its Baby Moon Experience in May, I was thrilled because being pregnant it sounded like just what I needed to soothe my aching and tired muscles. So, one evening after work, I headed down to Auriga to try it out. It was truly a holistic treatment that focused not only on my entire body but also on my emotional well-being as well. I loved the experience so much that I had to share the details with you:

The Baby Moon Experience begins with a pre-natal massage for mothers. JJ, my therapist, told me to lie on my side and gave me a nice long pillow to snuggle up against. She then gently and tenderly massaged by back and legs. It was such a relief! As a mother of an eight-year-old boy, JJ imparted many invaluable tips from her own experience. One of the things that I learnt from her was that I should try to put my legs up on a pillow every day after work to reduce swelling and water retention. She even rubbed the Organic Pharmacy Mother & Baby Oil all around my tummy to prevent stretch marks. The amount of care and concern she showed really moved me.

After the massage, I had an Organic Rose Facial which was not only relaxing but also purifying for my skin. Very often, due to hormonal changes in our body, stress and anxiety, our skin can sometimes break out. The Organic Rose Facial not only cleanses the pores naturally but also soothes any inflammations there may be.

The last part of the treatment focused on my hair and scalp. As pregnancy often brings with it much apprehension and worry about the baby and about motherhood, I found the massage really helped calm my nerves and any headaches I was having! JJ really rubbed the organic oil deep into my scalp and hair, which made my hair wonderfully silky soft afterward.

I left the treatment feeling wonderfully refreshed and rejuvenated. During a time when pregnancy can leave one feeling bloated and heavy, I felt so cared for and immensely pampered. This is something I would definitely recommend to any expecting mother.

In my last post I introduced a detoxing tip from Executive Chef, Alex Branch. But, if you are like me, there is still more detoxing in order! So I reached out to Capella Ixtapa’s Spa Manager, Valentina Velazco for some additional detoxing tips. She was happy to oblige and shared her favorite post-holiday treatments.

Valentina recommends a visit to the sauna. Specifically she suggests combining Finn and Turkish Sauna (Ice Room and hydrotherapy), as it is a very efficient way of ridding the body of toxins.

After that she recommends a 3-step treatment:

1) Body Exfoliation. Look for options with anti-inflammatory and purifying elements like papaya or mango.
2) Body Wraps. This is opportunity to add nourishments into the skin. At Capella Ixtapa we often include the local Melissa plant in these sort of treatments.
3) A Massage. Whether you like something deep or lighter, a therapeutic massage is a great way to free the tension in one’s muscles.

Also, don’t forget about your face! A purifying facial treatment will help you remove all impurities and remedy the saturation of make up usage during the holidays.

After a spa day like that and Alex’s fantastic Cocoa Tea, it will be easy to continue with the good habits in the rest of the year. I am implementing this plan and am already seeing results!

Do you have a special detox recipe or treatment plan that works for you? Please share it with me in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter! Here’s to continued good habits in 2013!

When you visit El Capricho Spa at Capella Ixtapa, you may notice the writing on the floor at the entrance of each treatment room. I was recently able to chat about it with our Spa Manager Valentina and she explained me the reason behind these writings.

Since the ancient times the local culture has always learned from and to live in harmony with the nature. One aspect of this is the varied use of local flowers. In Guerrero we have traditional uses for flowers in cooking and medicinally as well as for spiritual and purifying practices.

Dawn Flower

In Náhuatl, the ancient indigenous language, the word “Xochitl” means flower. Inspired by this ancient use and knowledge of the purifying properties of the flowers, every treatment room at El Capricho Spa has a native name:

Valentina and her team researched the ancient uses of the flowers and created the “Regional Collection”, a Body Wrap collection that involves local elements such as: papaya and mango, cacao and coffee, aloe and cactus, lemongrass and toronjil (or melissa).

Heart Flower

The last is one of the signature treatments at El Capricho Spa and toronjil has incredible healthbenefits. This particular oil has several therapeutic properties, diaphoretic, carminative, anti-bacterial, antispasmodic and even acts as an antidepressant! Melissa or Toronjil is used to calm the nerves and has a sedative effect. It is also said to cure migraines and headaches associated with common cold. Who knew plants could do so much!

Next time you visit Capella Ixtapa, I recommend you to try the Regional Collection body wraps! And, if you are interested in learning more about the ancient healing traditions of our region, Valentina will be glad to share them with you!

I love learning about the different spa treatments here at Capella Ixtapa. Lately, everyone has been talking about the Chocolaterapia, which showcases both cocoa and coffee. Intrigued, I sat down with Spa Manager Valentina Velazco to find out more:

What does the Chocolaterapia treatment consist of?
Chocolaterapia is a very pampering treatment, created to relax, rejuvenate and nurture. The treatment includes three steps: an exfoliation, a wrapped mask, and a massage. First, the exfoliation is done using a scrub made out of coffee grains that removes dead skin cells. This readies the skin to receive nutrients.
Next a rich mask of cocoa and coffee are applied over the clean skin and the body is then wrapped. The wrapping warms the body, allowing pores to open and the body to receive the treatment’s benefits.
Once the nutrients have been absorbed, its time for a shower followed by a nurturing massage. A cream out of cocoa and coffee is used to seal the treatment in.

What are the benefits of coffee and cocoa?
At the Capella Ixtapa Spa our treatments are mostly derived from elements found in the region. The coast of Guerrero state, where Ixtapa is located, is well known for its coffee. Coffee regenerates and detoxifies skin, improving the health and giving it a fresh and firm glow. Meanwhile the cocoa, which has a rich Mexican history, is a great moisturizer full of vitamins and minerals. Both cocoa and coffee are also natural antioxidants. Together they have fantastic rejuvenating properties.

What inspired you to create the treatment?
Cocoa is considered one of the country’s greatest historical treasures. Dating back to the time of ancient Mexican civilizations, the seeds were so precious that the Aztecs used them as currency. Even as a beverage, cocoa was known as “the drink of the gods!”
I wanted to pay homage to this history by combining it with another element, the coffee, which is one of today’s proudest crops. The combination was ideal, because of the nurturing benefits of both elements.

It sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it myself!
Indeed it is! Our clients often say that Chocolaterapia is the most delicious 50-minute experience they have ever had at a spa. By the end you leave feeling pampered like a true Mexican God or Goddess!